Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Same Old Story

SARASOTA COUNTY — Despite concerns from neighborhood residents and the state transportation agency, a Manatee County developer is marching ahead with plans for a mixed-use project at the busy U.S. 41-Stickney Point Road intersection.

Benderson Development Co. filed a formal application Aug. 26 to rezone a former mobile home park to allow construction of 501 condo and apartment units, a 150-room hotel and 140,000 square feet of retail space.

The company also filed for a "Critical Area Plan," or CAP, designation for the proposed "Siesta Promenade," which would allow the requested increase in density.

The Sarasota County Commission has scheduled a public hearing on Oct. 11 to consider the CAP boundary.

The proposed policy includes locational criteria where a "Village Enclave" could be located and development standards for the "Village Enclave", such as the following:

1. allowing a reduction of open space,

2. allowing a reduction of Greenbelt Buffer widths,

3. excluding the affordable housing requirement, and

4. acquiring density without the use of the transfer of development rights from off-site sources, as well as

5. other standards found in Village development such as walkable neighborhoods.

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing for this privately-initiated Comprehensive Plan Amendment to discuss the standards and criteria on September 15 at 6:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as possible. The hearing will be held in the County Administration Center, Commission Chamber, 1660 Ringling Blvd. First Floor, Sarasota, Florida.

The Cassia Cay development comprises two adjoining parcels--18.27 acres is zoned Commercial General and they are proposing mixed used development, but they are asking for certain waivers and exceptions--one to increase the minimum height of at least one of the buildings and another to allow only apartments, instead of mixed use in another building. The second parcel of 13 acres is along the Bay and is zoned high density residential with 98 units, for a total a total of 158 residential units.

. . . critics said that decision violated the county's comprehensive plan, which calls for the preservation of wetlands.

The wetland sits at the northwest corner of Honore Avenue and University Parkway, in the middle of the site where developers want to place their commercial shopping center. The center will feature the grocery store, some restaurants, and a Wawa gas station/convenience store.

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